Punch goblet 1867

This striking blue punch goblet was crafted by Cristalleries de Baccarat, a glassmaking house established in France in 1764. Notice the parade of figures encircling the bowl, imagery drawn from classical antiquity. Here, we see the triumphant procession of Bacchus, the god of wine, revelry, and theatre. He is depicted riding in a chariot pulled by goats, surrounded by his ecstatic followers, the Bacchantes. These figures, frozen in perpetual dance, echo motifs found on ancient Greek vases and Roman frescoes. Now, consider how the symbols of Bacchus have shifted through time. Originally a deity associated with liberation and ecstasy, Bacchus and his symbols have been reinterpreted through the ages. Even today, the image of Bacchus persists, invoked to symbolize the intoxicating allure of life and the eternal human desire for escape and transformation.